Ings started his career in the youth team of Southampton but was released as a schoolboy. He subsequently joined the Centre of Excellence at A.F.C. Bournemouth, progressing through the system to sign a two-year scholarship in the summer of 2008. He made his first professional appearance in October 2009. He signed his first professional contract in May 2010 and extended it in September of the same year. He joined Conference South side Dorchester Town in September 2010 for two months. He scored his first professional goal in February 2011. In August 2011, he joined Football League Championship side Burnley, on a four year contract.

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Career

Bournemouth

Ings was born in Winchester and grew up in Hythe, Hampshire.[3] He started his career with Southampton, before being released as a school boy.[4] He subsequently signed a two-year apprentice contract with Bournemouth in May 2008, having progressed through the club's Centre of Excellence.[3] He had also previously had experience playing for the reserve side.[3] He made his professional debut for Bournemouth on 6 October 2009, in a 2–1 away defeat to Northampton Town in the Football League Trophy, replacing Jason Tindall in the second half as a substitute.[5] His second season in the youth team was blighted by a long-term abdominal injury, which restricted his playing time.[6] He remained with the youth team until the summer of 2010, when he signed a short-term three month contract.[4] He extended his contract in September 2010, until the end of the 2010–11 campaign.[4]

In September 2010, he was sent on an initial one month loan to Conference South side Dorchester Town on loan.[7] His debut for the Magpies came on the 11 September 2010, scoring the equaliser in a 2–1 home defeat to Ebbsfleet United.[8] His second goal for Dorchester came on 24 September, scoring a penalty in a 4–1 win over Mangotsfield United in the FA Cup.[9] On 6 October, his loan was extended for a further month.[10] His next goal came in a 4–1 defeat to Havant & Waterlooville as the Magpies were knocked out of the FA Cup.[11] On 16 October, he scored the second in a 2–0 league win over Lewes, after coming on as a late subsitute for Giuseppe Sole.[12] He got his fifth goal in a 2–1 away win over Staines Town, scoring the opener.[13] His first goal in November came in a 2–1 home defeat to Maidenhead United, which ended an unbeaten run of six games.[14] On 12 November 2010, his loan was extended for a third time for an additional month.[15] He scored the second in a 3–1 win over Weston-super-Mare in the FA Trophy to help them progress to the next round.[16] On 23 November, his spell at Dorchester was cut short as he was recalled from his loan by Bournemouth due to an injury crisis at the club.[17]

On 30 November, he signed a new contract extension which lasted until 2012.[18] He made his league debut and first start for Bournemouth on 28 December 2010, in a 2–0 away defeat to Milton Keynes Dons in League One, where he was substituted off in the first half for Steve Fletcher.[19] He started to become a first team regular and scored his first professional goal against Swindon Town on 1 February 2011, in a 3–2 win at Dean Court.[20] His form saw him rewarded with a new contract extension, lasting until 2013.[4] On 26 February 2011, he scored a header to equalise in 2–1 win away at Dagenham & Redbridge in the league.[21] On 1 April he added to his tally with a goal against Peterborough United in a 3–3 draw.[22] He went through a rich vein of goalscoring from in April, scoring four goals in three games. He scored an overhead kick to equalise in the last minute against Tranmere Rovers, however, the Cherries went on to lose the game 2–1.[23] He also scored in a 2–0 away victory over Notts County.[24] He scored his first brace in a 2–2 draw with Yeovil Town, including one penalty.[25] His final goal for Bournemouth came in the last game of the season, in the play-off semi-final defeat to Huddersfield Town, as Bournemouth were knocked out on penalties.[26]

In the summer of 2011, he was linked with reported moves away from Bournemouth with Celtic, Liverpool and Newcastle United.[4]Premier League side Fulham also had a £400,000 bid rejected by the club.[4] In July 2011, he was rewarded with his fifth contract in twelve months, improving his deal to be one of the top earners at the club.[4] He remained at the club through pre-season and started in the first game of the season in a 3–0 away defeat to Charlton Athletic. It proved to be his final appearance for the club.[27]

Burnley

On 15 August 2011, he signed for Championship side Burnley for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £1m, on a four year contract.[28] He rejoined former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe who had made the same move eight months earlier. A week into his move he was ruled out for five months after suffering a knee cartilage tear, which required surgery.[29] He finally made his debut on 14 February 2012, in a 2–0 win over Barnsley at Turf Moor, where he came on as a late substitute for Charlie Austin.[30] His first start came a month later on 10 March 2012, in a 1–1 home draw with Crystal Palace in the league.[31] His first goal for Burnley came on 31 March, in a 5–1 win against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.[32] His second goal came in the following game, where he scored the equaliser in a 3–1 defeat to Birmingham City.[33] He scored his third goal of the season in the final game of the season, a 30-yard strike in a 1–1 home draw with Bristol City.[34]

He started the 2012–13 season as a first choice regular in pre-season following the sale of striker Jay Rodriguez to Southampton. He scored in friendly wins over Altrincham and Bury.[35][36] He suffered another serious knee injury in the final pre-season game, a 3–1 defeat to Rochdale. He tore the knee cartilage in the opposite knee to the previous season which resulted in surgery, keeping him out of action for up to six months.[37]